1,721,089 research outputs found
Light-induced changes in photosynthesis and structure of cyanobacteria cultured biofilms from an Italian wastewater treatment plant
The photosynthetic and light acclimation capability of phototrophic biofilms collected seasonally from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Fiumicino Airport (Rome, Italy) was tested in culture at different irradiance conditions. Photosynthesis versus Irradiance (P/I) curves were recorded on 15, 30 and 45 day aged communities and chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins quantified. Light microscopy observations were performed to evaluate inoculum species composition and taxonomic shifts over time in cultured biofilms. Phototrophs acclimated to different irradiances by varying the photosynthetic efficiency, maximum photosynthetic rate and pigment content. Community age and biomass variation also affected photosynthesis-light response. Marked shifts towards the prevalence of cyanobacteria were observed in summer and autumn biofilms kept at the highest experimental irradiances. Data indicated high productivity and acclimation potential of cultured phototrophic biofilms in view of their application for bioremediation technologies
The taxonomic position of Cyanidium, Cyanidioschyzon and Galdieria: an update.
The ecophysiological, cytomorphological, biochemical and molecular data presently available for the acidophilic red algal species Cyanidium caldarium, Cyanidioschyzon merolae and Galdieria sulphuraria are summarised. The taxonomic position of the three genera is discussed and emendements to the generic diagnosis are presented
Viridiella fridericiana (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyta), a new genus and species isolated from extremely acid enviromnents.
Viridiella fridericiana (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyta), a new genus and species isolated from extremely acid enviromnents.
Morphology, ultrastructure and ecology of an acidophilic alga, Pseudococcomyxa simplex (Mainx) Fott (Chlorococcales).
Biofilm cultures to understand Ostreopsis benthic HABs
BIOFILM CULTURES TO UNDERSTAND OSTREOPSIS BENTHIC HABS
Roberta Congestri1 ([email protected]), Francesca Di Pippo2 ([email protected]), Patrizia Albertano1 ([email protected])
1University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Department of Biology, LBA- Laboratory of Biology of Algae, Via della Ricerca scientifica, 00133 Rome, 2CNR–IAMC, National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Località Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09072 Oristano, Italy.
An incubator prototype specially designed for culturing aquatic phototrophic biofilms on substrata at controlled environmental conditions was used to perform semi-continuous flow microcosm experiments with microphytobenthos sampled during toxic Ostreopsis ovata outbreaks in summer along the middle Tyrrhenian Sea coast. The system provided the possibility of simultaneously controlling environmental conditions and co-culturing biofilm organisms on a set of artificial substrata in a closed photobioreactor, providing a realistic assessment of community processes and maintaining biofilm integrity during sampling. The design allowed to study the effect of time, site, substratum of in situ growth and the role of key species in community development starting from natural inocula, cultured on polycarbonate slides, in a moving film of K/2 medium (50 L h-1 flow velocity) under controlled temperature (25°C) and light conditions (110 mol photons m-2s-1). Benthic dinoflagellates, diatoms and filamentous cyanobacteria constituted significant fractions, in taxon richness and biomass, of the natural biofilms formed on macroalgae and bryozoans used as inocula. Biofilm cells were all embedded in a common mucilage matrix (EPS, exopolymeric substances). Non-destructive, real time monitoring of biomass accumulation was obtained by recordings of transmittance values by light sensors positioned under the slides. Growth curves indicated that biofilms reached a mature stage in 40 to 50 days. Species accrual, growth and compositional shifts over time were monitored using a variety of microscopical technique, including confocal laser scanning microscopy. Initial adhesion and substratum colonisation appeared as stochastic processes, then community structure and physiognomy, especially of the photosynthetic fraction, visibly changed with time. Prevalence of cyanobacteria at late growth stages was detected in all cultures, which showed complex layering, inner voids and channels. HPLC on matrix sugars revealed variations in total amounts and composition. No toxic compounds were detected in the final communities tested by LC-MS and MALDI-TOF MS techniques
Viridiella fridericiana (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyta), a new genus and species isolated from extremely acid enviromnents.
Morphology, ultrastructure and ecology of an acidophilic alga, Pseudococcomyxa simplex (Mainx) Fott (Chlorococcales).
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